Mets manager Terry Collins said today that the Mets are interested in Japanese SS Takashi Toritani.
Toritani, 33, has played the past 11 seasons for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball. In that time, he has hit at a .285/.372/.412 clip, and has appeared in 1,444 consecutive games, and thus being known as “The Ironman of Japan.”
Toritani is now being represented by Scott Boras, who says that Toritani is capable of playing any infield position, but is good enough to stick as a regular at shortstop in the MLB.
The Mets have done little in the high-end international market over Sandy Alderson’s tenure, but that could soon change.
“We haven’t been in that category. I expect we will be in that category, soon,” he said.
The Mets are also interested in Korean shortstop Jung-ho Kang who is expected to be posted later this month.
